WFS 145W was delivered new to Alexander Fife (later Fife Scottish) on September 29th 1980, placed in traffic from Kirkcaldy Depot and allocated the fleetnumber FPE145. The bus subsequently transferred to Glenrothes Depot in the mid-80s. During 1988, Midland Scottish were suffering from vehicle shortages following service enhancements in central Scotland and called for assistance from other SBG subsidiaries. Fife and Northern had received batches of new Leyland Tigers and consequently had older Y-type Leopards to spare.

WFS 145W transferred across the Forth to Midland Scottish in Autumn 1988 along with a few others, gained fleetnumber MPE453 and entered service from Bannockburn depot in December carrying the blue/cream Midland livery. In 1989, the M prefix was dropped and PE453 moved to Balfron Depot. For maintenance, vehicles were often swapped between Balfron and Bannockburn, and PE453 saw regular service on most routes operated by both depots.

Following privatisation of the SBG in 1992, Midland Scottish was sold to the GRT group and renamed Midland Bluebird. A bulk order of new Mercedes O405s and Scania N113s spelled the end for some older types, and as a result, PE453 moved to Oban depot with a handful of other Leopards.

GRT sold off the Oban operations to a new operator, Oban & District in 1994. They in turn were bought over by the expanding West Coast Motors group in 1999. Following fleet investment by WCM, the already depleted Leopard fleet was relegated to school duties with only occasional stand-ins on the front line. By June 2007, WFS 145W was the sole remaining stalwart Leopard, and passed into preservation following a full day's work on 27th June.

Extensive bodywork, heavy mechanical and electrical work ensued over the following 18 months, the bus finally being restored to 1989 condition as Midland Scottish PE453 of Balfron Depot in December 2008, a fitting end to a bus which provided sterling service to its operators for three decades.